第7章

类别:其他 作者:Herbert George Wells字数:11748更新时间:19/01/07 15:15:33
ThesongroareduptoGrahamnow,nolongerupbornebymusic,butcoarseandnoisy,andthebeatingofthemarchingfeet,tramp,tramp,tramp,tramp,interwovewithathunderousirregularityoffootstepsfromtheundisciplinedrabblethatpouredalongthehigherways。 Abruptlyhenotedacontrast。Thebuildingsontheoppositesideofthewayseemeddeserted,thecablesandbridgesthatlacedacrosstheaislewereemptyandshadowy。ItcameintoGraham’smindthatthesealsoshouldhaveswarmedwithpeople。 Hefeltacuriousemotion——throbbing——veryfast! Hestoppedagain。Theguardsbeforehimmarchedon;thoseabouthimstoppedashedid。Hesawthedirectionoftheirfaces。Thethrobbinghadsomethingtodowiththelights。Hetoolookedup。 Atfirstitseemedtohimathingthataffectedthelightssimply,anisolatedphenomenon,havingnobearingonthethingsbelow。Eachhugeglobeofblindingwhitenesswasasitwereclutched,compressedinasystolethatwasfollowedbyatransitorydiastole,andagainasystolelikeatighteninggrip,darkness,light,darkness,inrapidalternation。 Grahambecameawarethatthisstrangebehaviourofthelightshadtodowiththepeoplebelow。Theappearanceofthehousesandways,theappearanceofthepackedmasseschanged,becameaconfusionofvividlightsandleapingshadows。Hesawamultitudeofshadowshadsprungintoaggressiveexistence,seemedrushingup,broadening,widening,growingwithsteadyswiftness——toleapsuddenlybackandreturnreinforced。Thesongandthetrampinghadceased。Theunanimousmarch,hediscovered,wasarrested,therewereeddies,aflowsideways,shoutsof\"Thelights!\"Voiceswerecryingtogetheronething。\"Thelights!\"criedthesevoices。\"Thelights!\"Helookeddown。Inthisdancingdeathofthelightstheareaofthestreethadsuddenlybecomeamonstrousstruggle。Thehugewhiteglobesbecamepurple—white,purplewithareddishglow,flickered,flickeredfasterandfaster,flutteredbetweenlightandextinction,ceasedtoflickerandbecamemerefadingspecksofglowingredinavastobscurity。Intensecondstheextinctionwasaccomplished,andtherewasonlythisroaringdarkness,ablackmonstrositythathadsuddenlyswallowedupthoseglitteringmyriadsofmen。 Hefeltinvisibleformsabouthim;hisarmsweregripped。Somethingrappedsharplyagainsthisshin。 Avoicebawledinhisear,\"Itisallright——allright。\" Grahamshookofftheparalysisofhisfirstastonishment。 HestruckhisforeheadagainstLincoln’sandbawled,\"Whatisthisdarkness?\" \"TheCouncilhascutthecurrentsthatlightthecity。Wemustwait——stop。Thepeoplewillgoon。 Theywill——\" Hisvoicewasdrowned。Voiceswereshouting,\"SavetheSleeper。TakecareoftheSleeper。\"A guardstumbledagainstGrahamandhurthishandbyaninadvertentblowofhisweapon。Awildtumulttossedandwhirledabouthim,growing,asitseemed,louder,denser,morefuriouseachmoment。Fragmentsofrecognisablesoundsdrovetowardshim,werewhirledawayfromhimashismindreachedouttograspthem。Voicesseemedtobeshoutingconflictingorders,othervoicesanswered。Thereweresuddenlyasuccessionofpiercingscreamsclosebeneaththem。 Avoicebawledinhisear,\"Theredpolice,\"andrecededforthwithbeyondhisquestions。 Acracklingsoundgrewtodistinctness,andtherewithaleapingoffaintflashesalongtheedgeofthefurtherways。BytheirlightGrahamsawtheheadsandbodiesofanumberofmen,armedwithweaponslikethoseofhisguards,leapintoaninstant’sdimvisibility。Thewholeareabegantocrackle,toflashwithlittleinstantaneousstreaksoflight,andabruptlythedarknessrolledbacklikeacurtain。 Aglareoflightdazzledhiseyes,avastseethingexpanseofstrugglingmenconfusedhismind。A shout,aburstofcheering,cameacrosstheways。Helookeduptoseethesourceofthelight。Amanhungfaroverheadfromtheupperpartofacable,holdingbyaropetheblindingstarthathaddriventhedarknessback。Heworeareduniform。 Graham’seyesfelltothewaysagain。Awedgeofredalittlewayalongthevistacaughthiseye。Hesawitwasadensemassofred—cladmenjammedthehigherfurtherway,theirbacksagainstthepitilesscliffofbuilding,andsurroundedbyadensecrowdofantagonists。Theywerefighting。Weaponsflashedandroseandfell,headsvanishedattheedgeofthecontest,andotherheadsreplacedthem,thelittleflashesfromthegreenweaponsbecamelittlejetsofsmokygreywhilethelightlasted。 Abruptlytheflarewasextinguishedandthewayswereaninkydarknessoncemore,atumultuousmystery。 Hefeltsomethingthrustingagainsthim。Hewasbeingpushedalongthegallery。Someonewasshouting——itmightbeathim。Hewastooconfusedtohear。Hewasthrustagainstthewall,andanumberofpeopleblunderedpasthim。Itseemedtohimthathisguardswerestrugglingwithoneanother。 Suddenlythecable—hungstar—holderappearedagain,andthewholescenewaswhiteanddazzling。Thebandofred—coatsseemedbroaderandnearer;itsapexwashalf—waydownthewaystowardsthecentralaisle。 AndraisinghiseyesGrahamsawthatanumberofthesemenhadalsoappearednowinthedarkenedlowergalleriesoftheoppositebuilding,andwerefiringovertheheadsoftheirfellowsbelowattheboilingconfusionofpeopleonthelowerways。Themeaningofthesethingsdawneduponhim。Themarchofthepeoplehadcomeuponanambushattheveryoutset。 Thrownintoconfusionbytheextinctionofthelightstheywerenowbeingattackedbytheredpolice。Thenhebecameawarethathewasstandingalone,thathisguardsandLincolnwerealongthegalleryinthedirectionalongwhichhehadcomebeforethedarknessfell。Hesawtheyweregesticulatingtohimwildly,runningbacktowardshim。Agreatshoutingcamefromacrosstheways。Thenitseemedasthoughthewholefaceofthedarkenedbuildingoppositewaslinedandspeckledwithred—cladmen。Andtheywerepointingovertohimandshouting。\"TheSleeper!SavetheSleeper!\"shoutedamultitudeofthroats。 Somethingstruckthewallabovehishead。Helookedupattheimpactandsawastar—shapedsplashofsilverymetal。HesawLincolnnearhim。Felthisarmgripped。Then,pat,pat;hehadbeenmissedtwice。 Foramomenthedidnotunderstandthis。Thestreetwashidden,everythingwashidden,ashelooked。 Thesecondflarehadburnedout。 LincolnhadgrippedGrahambythearm,waslugginghimalongthegallery。\"Beforethenextlight!\"hecried。Hishastewascontagious。 Graham’sinstinctofself—preservationovercametheparalysisofhisincredulousastonishment。Hebecameforatimetheblindcreatureofthefearofdeath。Heran,stumblingbecauseoftheuncertaintyofthedarkness,blunderedintohisguardsastheyturnedtorunwithhim。Hastewashisonedesire,toescapethisperilousgalleryuponwhichhewasexposed。Athirdglarecamecloseonitspredecessors。Withitcameagreatshoutingacrosstheways,anansweringtumultfromtheways。Thered—coatsbelow,hesaw,hadnowalmostgainedthecentralpassage。Theircountlessfacesturnedtowardshim,andtheyshouted。Thewhitefacadeoppositewasdenselystippledwithred。 Allthesewonderfulthingsconcernedhim,turneduponhimasapivot。TheseweretheguardsoftheCouncilattemptingtorecapturehim。 Luckyitwasforhimthattheseshotswerethefirstfiredinangerforahundredandfiftyyears。Heheardbulletswhackingoverhishead,feltasplashofmoltenmetalstinghisear,andperceivedwithoutlookingthatthewholeoppositefacade,anunmaskedambuscadeofredpolice,wascrowdedandbawlingandfiringathim。 Downwentoneofhisguardsbeforehim,andGraham,unabletostop,leaptthewrithingbody。 Inanothersecondhehadplunged,unhurt,intoablackpassage,andincontinentlysomeone,coming,itmaybe,inatransversedirection,blunderedviolentlyintohim。Hewashurlingdownastaircaseinabsolutedarkness。Hereeled,andwasstruckagain,andcameagainstawallwithhishands。Hewascrushedbyaweightofstrugglingbodies,whirledround,andthrusttotheright。Avastpressurepinnedhim。Hecouldnotbreathe,hisribsseemedcracking。Hefeltamomentaryrelaxation,andthenthewholemassofpeoplemovingtogether,borehimbacktowardsthegreattheatrefromwhichhehadsorecentlycome。 Thereweremomentswhenhisfeetdidnottouchtheground。Thenhewasstaggeringandshoving。Heheardshoutsof\"Theyarecoming!\"andamuffledcryclosetohim。Hisfootblunderedagainstsomethingsoft,heheardahoarsescreamunderfoot。Heheardshoutsof\"TheSleeper!\"buthewastooconfusedtospeak。Heheardthegreenweaponscrackling。Foraspacehelosthisindividualwill,becameanatominapanic,blind,unthinking,mechanical。 Hethrustandpressedbackandwrithedinthepressure,kickedpresentlyagainstastep,andfoundhimselfascendingaslope。Andabruptlythefacesallabouthimleaptoutoftheblack,visible,ghastly—whiteandastonished,terrified,perspiring,inalividglare。 Oneface,ayoungman’s,wasveryneartohim,nottwentyinchesaway。Atthetimeitwasbutapassingincidentofnoemotionalvalue,butafterwardsitcamebacktohiminhisdreams。Forthisyoungman,wedgeduprightinthecrowdforatime,hadbeenshotandwasalreadydead。 Afourthwhitestarmusthavebeenlitbythemanonthecable。ItslightcameglaringinthroughvastwindowsandarchesandshowedGrahamthathewasnowoneofadensemassofflyingblackfigurespressedbackacrossthelowerareaofthegreattheatre。Thistimethepicturewaslividandfragmentaryslashedandbarredwithblackshadows。Hesawthatquiteneartohimtheredguardswerefightingtheirwaythroughthepeople。Hecouldnottellwhethertheysawhim。HelookedforLincolnandhisguards。HesawLincolnnearthestageofthetheatresurroundedinacrowdofblack—badgedrevolutionaries,liftedupandstaringtoandfroasifseekinghim。Grahamperceivedthathehimselfwasneartheoppositeedgeofthecrowd,thatbehindhim,separatedbyabarrier,slopedthenowvacantseatsofthetheatre。Asuddenideacametohim,andhebeganfightinghiswaytowardsthebarrier。Ashereachedittheglarecametoanend。 Inamomenthehadthrownoffthegreatcloakthatnotonlyimpededhismovementsbutmadehimconspicuous,andhadslippeditfromhisshoulders。Heheardsomeonetripinitsfolds。Inanotherhewasscalingthebarrierandhaddroppedintotheblacknessonthefurtherside。Thenfeelinghiswayhecametothelowerendofanascendinggangway。Inthedarknessthesoundoffiringceasedandtheroaroffeetandvoiceslulled。Thensuddenlyhecametoanunexpectedstepandtrippedandfell。Ashedidsopoolsandislandsamidstthedarknessabouthimleapttovividlightagain,theuproarsurgedlouderandtheglareofthefifthwhitestarshonethroughthevastfenestrationsofthetheatrewalls。 Herolledoveramongsomeseats,heardashoutingandthewhirringrattleofweapons,struggledupandwasknockedbackagain,perceivedthatanumberofblack—badgedmenwereallabouthimfiringattherebelsbelow,leapingfromseattoseat,crouchingamongtheseatstoreload。Instinctivelyhecrouchedamidsttheseats,asstrayshotsrippedthepneumaticcushionsandcutbrightslashesontheirsoftmetalframes。 Instinctivelyhemarkedthedirectionofthegangways,themostplausiblewayofescapeforhimsosoonastheveilofdarknessfellagain。 Ayoungmaninfadedbluegarmentscamevaultingovertheseats。\"Hullo!\"hesaid,withhisflyingfeetwithinsixinchesofthecrouchingSleeper’sface。 Hestaredwithoutanysignofrecognition,turnedtofire,fired,and,shouting,\"TohellwiththeCouncil!\" wasabouttofireagain。ThenitseemedtoGrahamthatthehalfofthisman’sneckhadvanished。A dropofmoisturefellonGraham’scheek。Thegreenweaponstoppedhalfraised。Foramomentthemanstoodstillwithhisfacesuddenlyexpressionless,thenhebegantoslantforward。Hiskneesbent。Mananddarknessfelltogether。AtthesoundofhisfallGrahamroseupandranforhislifeuntilastepdowntothegangwaytrippedhim。Hescrambledtohisfeet,turnedupthegangwayandranon。 Whenthesixthstarglaredhewasalreadyclosetotheyawningthroatofapassage。Heranontheswifterforthelight,enteredthepassageandturnedacornerintoabsolutenightagain。Hewasknockedsideways,rolledover,andrecoveredhisfeet。Hefoundhimselfoneofacrowdofinvisiblefugitivespressinginonedirection。Hisonethoughtnowwastheirthoughtalso;toescapeoutofthisfighting。Hethrustandstruck,staggered,ran,waswedgedtightly,lostgroundandthenwasclearagain。 Forsomeminuteshewasrunningthroughthedarknessalongawindingpassage,andthenhecrossedsomewideandopenspace,passeddownalongincline,andcameatlastdownaflightofstepstoalevelplace。 Manypeoplewereshouting,\"Theyarecoming!Theguardsarecoming。Theyarefiring。Getoutofthefighting。Theguardsarefiring。ItwillbesafeinSeventhWay。AlongheretoSeventhWay!\"Therewerewomenandchildreninthecrowdaswellasmen。 Mencallednamestohim。Thecrowdconvergedonanarchway,passedthroughashortthroatandemergedonawiderspaceagain,litdimly。Theblackfiguresabouthimspreadoutandranupwhatseemedinthetwilighttobeagiganticseriesofsteps。Hefollowed。Thepeopledispersedtotherightandleft……Heperceivedthathewasnolongerinacrowd。Hestoppednearthehigheststep。Beforehim,onthatlevel,weregroupsofseatsandalittlekiosk。Hewentuptothisand,stoppingintheshadowofitseaves,lookedabouthimpanting。 Everythingwasvagueandgray,butherecognisedthatthesegreatstepswereaseriesofplatformsofthe\"ways,\"nowmotionlessagain。Theplatformslanteduponeitherside,andthetallbuildingsrosebeyond,vastdimghosts,theirinscriptionsandadvertisementsindistinctlyseen,andupthroughthegirdersandcableswasafaintinterruptedribbonofpallidsky。A numberofpeoplehurriedby。Fromtheirshoutsandvoices,itseemedtheywerehurryingtojointhefighting。Otherlessnoisyfiguresflittedtimidlyamongtheshadows。 Fromveryfarawaydownthestreethecouldhearthesoundofastruggle。Butitwasevidenttohimthatthiswasnotthestreetintowhichthetheatreopened。Thatformerfight,itseemed,hadsuddenlydroppedoutofsoundandhearing。And——grotesquethought!——theywerefightingforhim! Foraspacehewaslikeamanwhopausesinthereadingofavividbook,andsuddenlydoubtswhathehasbeentakingunquestioningly。Atthattimehehadlittlemindfordetails;thewholeeffectwasahugeastonishment。Oddlyenough,whiletheflightfromtheCouncilprison,thegreatcrowdinthehall,andtheattackoftheredpoliceupontheswarmingpeoplewereclearlypresentinhismind,itcosthimanefforttopieceinhisawakeningandtorevivethemeditativeintervaloftheSilentRooms。AtfirsthismemoryleaptthesethingsandtookhimbacktothecascadeatPentargenquiveringinthewind,andallthesombresplendoursofthesunlitCornishcoast。Thecontrasttouchedeverythingwithunreality。Andthenthegapfilled,andhebegantocomprehendhisposition。 Itwasnolongerabsolutelyariddle,asithadbeenintheSilentRooms。Atleasthehadthestrange,bareoutlinenow。Hewasinsomewaytheownerofhalftheworld,andgreatpoliticalpartieswerefightingtopossesshim。OntheonehandwastheWhiteCouncil,withitsredpolice,setresolutely,itseemed,ontheusurpationofhispropertyandperhapshismurder;ontheother,therevolutionthathadliberatedhim,withthisunseen\"Ostrog\"asitsleader。Andthewholeofthisgiganticcitywasconvulsedbytheirstruggle。 Franticdevelopmentofhisworld!\"Idonotunder— stand,\"hecried。\"Idonotunderstand!\" Hehadslippedoutbetweenthecontendingpartiesintothislibertyofthetwilight。Whatwouldhappennext?Whatwashappening?Hefiguredtheredcladmenasbusilyhuntinghim,drivingtheblackbadgedrevolutionistsbeforethem。 Atanyratechancehadgivenhimabreathingspace。 Hecouldlurkunchallengedbythepassers—by,andwatchthecourseofthings。Hiseyefolloweduptheintricatedimimmensityofthetwilightbuildings,anditcametohimasathinginfinitelywonderful,thatabovetherethesunwasrising,andtheworldwaslitandglowingwiththeoldfamiliarlightofday。Inalittlewhilehehadrecoveredhisbreath。Hisclothinghadalreadydrieduponhimfromthesnow。 Hewanderedformilesalongthesetwilightways,speakingtonoone,accostedbynoone——adarkfigureamongdarkfigures——thecovetedmanoutofthepast,theinestimableunintentionalownerofhalftheworld。Wherevertherewerelightsordensecrowds,orexceptionalexcitementhewasafraidofrecognition,andwatchedandturnedbackorwentupanddownbythemiddlestairways,intosometransversesystemofwaysatalowerorhigherlevel。Andthoughhecameonnomorefighting,thewholecitystirredwithbattle。Oncehehadtoruntoavoidamarchingmultitudeofmenthatsweptthestreet。 Everyoneabroadseemedinvolved。Forthemostparttheyweremen,andtheycarriedwhathejudgedwereweapons。Itseemedasthoughthestrugglewasconcentratedmainlyinthequarterofthecityfromwhichhecame。Everandagainadistantroaring,theremotesuggestionofthatconflict,reachedhisears。Thenhiscautionandhiscuriositystruggledtogether。Buthiscautionprevailed,andhecontinuedwanderingawayfromthefighting——sofarashecouldjudge。Hewentunmolested,unsuspectedthroughthedark。 Afteratimeheceasedtohearevenaremoteechoofthebattle,fewerandfewerpeoplepassedhim,untilatlasttheTitanicstreetsbecamedeserted。Thefrontgesofthebuildingsgrewplainandharsh;heseemedtohavecometoadistrictofvacantwarehouses。 Solitudecreptuponhim——hispaceslackened。 Hebecameawareofagrowingfatigue。Attimeshewouldturnasideandseathimselfononeofthenumerousseatsoftheupperways。Butafeverishrestlessness,theknowledgeofhisvitalimplicationinhisstruggle,wouldnotlethimrestinanyplaceforlong。Wasthestruggleonhisbehalfalone? Andtheninadesolateplacecametheshockofanearthquake——aroaringandthundering——amightywindofcoldairpouringthroughthecity,thesmashofglass,theslipandthudoffallingmasonry——asieriesofgiganticconcussions。Amassofglassandironworkfellfromtheremoteroofsintothemiddlegallery,notahundredyardsawayfromhim,andinthedistancewereshoutsandrunning。He,too,wasstartledtoanaimlessactivity,andranfirstonewayandthenasaimlesslyback。 Amancamerunningtowardshim。Hisself—controlreturned。\"Whathavetheyblownup?\"askedthemanbreathlessly。\"Thatwasanexplosion,\"andbeforeGrahamcouldspeakhehadhurriedon。 Thegreatbuildingsrosedimly,veiledbyaperplexingtwilight,albeittherivuletofskyabovewasnowbrightwithday。Henotedmanystrangefeatures,understandingnoneatthetime;heevenspeltoutmanyoftheinscriptionsinPhoneticlettering。Butwhatprofitsittodecipheraconfusionofodd—lookinglettersresolvingitself,afterpainfulstrainofeyeandmind,into\"HereisEadhamite,\"or,\"LabourBureau—— LittleSide?\"Grotesquethought,thatinallprobabilitysomeorallofthesecliff—likehouseswerehis! Theperversityofhisexperiencecametohimvividly。 Inactualfacthehadmadesuchaleapintimeasromancershaveimaginedagainandagain。Andthatfactrealised,hehadbeenprepared,hismindhad,asitwere,seateditselfforaspectacle。Andnospectacle,butagreatvaguedanger,unsympatheticshadowsandveilsofdarkness。Somewherethroughthelabyrinthineobscurityhisdeathsoughthim。 Wouldhe,afterall,bekilledbeforehesaw?Itmightbethatevenatthenextshadowycornerhisdestructionambushed。Agreatdesiretosee,agreatlongingtoknow,aroseinhim。 Hebecamefearfulofcorners。Itseemedtohimthattherewassafetyinconcealment。Wherecouldhehidetobeinconspicuouswhenthelightsreturned? Atlasthesatdownuponaseatinarecessononeofthehigherways,conceivinghewasalonethere。 Hesqueezedhisknucklesintohiswearyeyes。 Supposewhenhelookedagainhefoundthedarkthroughofparallelwaysandthatintolerablealtitudeofedifice,gone?Supposeheweretodiscoverthewholestoryoftheselastfewdays,theawakening,theshoutingmultitudes,thedarknessandthefighting,aphantasmagoria,anewandmorevividsortofdream。Itmustbeadream;itwassoinconsecutive,soreasonless。Whywerethepeoplefightingforhim?WhyshouldthissanerworldregardhimasOwnerandMaster? Sohethought,sittingblinded,andthenhelookedagain,halfhopinginspiteofhisearstoseesomefamiliaraspectofthelifeofthenineteenthcentury,tosee,perhaps,thelittleharbourofBoscastleabouthim,thecliffsofPentargen,orthebedroomofhishome。 Butfacttakesnoheedofhumanhopes。Asquadofmenwithablackbannertrampedathwartthenearershadows,intentonconflict,andbeyondrosethatgiddywalloffrontage,vastanddark,withthedimincomprehensibleletteringshowingfaintlyonitsface。 \"Itisnodream,\"hesaid,\"nodream。\"Andhebowedhisfaceuponhishands。 CHAPTERXI THEOLDMANWHOKNEWEVERYTHING Hewasstartledbyacoughcloseathand。 Heturnedsharply,andpeering,sawasmall,hunched—upfiguresittingacoupleofyardsoffintheshadowoftheenclosure。 \"Haveyeanynews?\"askedthehigh—pitchedwheezyvoiceofaveryoldman。 Grahamhesitated。\"None,\"hesaid。 \"Istayheretillthelightscomeagain,\"saidtheoldman。\"Thesebluescoundrelsareeverywhere—— everywhere。\" Graham’sanswerwasinarticulateassent。Hetriedtoseetheoldmanbutthedarknesshidhisface。Hewantedverymuchtorespond,totalk,buthedidnotknowhowtobegin。 \"Darkanddamnable,\"saidtheoldmansuddenly。 \"Darkanddamnable。Turnedoutofmyroomamongallthesedangers。\" \"That’shard,\"venturedGraham。\"That’shardonyou。\" \"Darkness。Anoldmanlostinthedarkness。Andalltheworldgonemad。Warandfighting。Thepolicebeatenandroguesabroad。Whydon’ttheybringsomenegroestoprotectus?……Nomoredarkpassagesforme。Ifelloveradeadman。\" \"You’resaferwithcompany,\"saidtheoldman,\"ifit’scompanyoftherightsort,\"andpeeredfrankly。 HerosesuddenlyandcametowardsGraham。 Apparentlythescrutinywassatisfactoy。Theoldmansatdownasifrelievedtobenolongeralone。 \"Eh!\"hesaid,\"butthisisaterribletime!Warandfighting,andthedeadIyingthere——men,strongmen,dyinginthedark。Sons!Ihavethreesons。Godknowswheretheyaretonight。\" Thevoiceceased。Thenrepeatedquavering:\"Godknowswheretheyaretonight。\" Grahamstoodrevolvingaquestionthatshouldnotbetrayhisignorance。Againtheoldman’svoiceendedthepause。 \"ThisOstrogwillwin,\"hesaid。\"Hewillwin。Andwhattheworldwillbelikeunderhimnoonecantell。Mysonsareunderthewind—vanes,allthree。 Oneofmydaughters—in—lawwashismistressforawhile。Hismistress!Werenotcommonpeople。 Thoughthey’vesentmetowandertonightandtakemychance……Iknewwhatwasgoingon。Beforemostpeople。Butthisdarkness!Andtofalloveradeadbodysuddenlyinthedark!\" Hiswheezybreathingcouldbeheard。 \"Ostrog!\"saidGraham。 \"ThegreatestBosstheworldhaseverseen,\"saidthevoice。 Grahamransackedhismind。\"TheCouncilhasfewfriendsamongthepeople,\"hehazarded。 \"Fewfriends。Andpooronesatthat。They’vehadtheirtime。Eh!Theyshouldhavekepttothecleverones。Buttwicetheyheldelection。AndOstrog。Andnowithasburstoutandnothingcanstayit,nothingcanstayit。TwicetheyrejectedOstrog——OstrogtheBoss。Iheardofhisragesatthetime——hewasterrible。Heavensavethem!Fornothingonearthcannow,hehasraisedtheLabourCompaniesuponthem。Nooneelsewouldhavedared。Allthebluecanvasarmedandmarching!Hewillgothroughwithit。Hewillgothrough。\" Hewassilentforalittlewhile。\"ThisSleeper,\"hesaid,andstopped。 \"Yes,\"saidGraham。\"Well?\" Thesenilevoicesanktoaconfidentialwhisper,thedim,palefacecameclose。\"TherealSleeper——\" \"Yes,\"saidGraham。 \"Diedyearsago。\" \"What?\"saidGraham,sharply。 \"Yearsago。Died。Yearsago。\" \"Youdon’tsayso!\"saidGraham。 \"Ido。Idosayso。Hedied。ThisSleeperwho’swokeup——theychangedinthenight。Apoor,druggedinsensiblecreature。ButImustn’ttellallI know。Imustn’ttellallIknow。\" Foralittlewhilehemutteredinaudibly。Hissecretwastoomuchforhim。\"Idon’tknowtheonesthatputhimtosleep——thatwasbeforemytime——butI knowthemanwhoinjectedthestimulantsandwokehimagain。Itwastentoone——wakeorkill。Wakeorkill。Ostrog’sway。\" Grahamwassoastonishedatthesethingsthathehadtointerrupt,tomaketheoldmanrepeathiswords,tore—questionvaguely,beforehewassureofthemeaningandfollyofwhatheheard。Andhisawakeninghadnotbeennatural!Wasthatanoldman’ssenilesuperstition,too,orhaditanytruthinit? Feelinginthedarkcornersofhismemory,hepresentlycameonsomethingthatmightconceivablybeanimpressionofsomesuchstimulatingeffect。Itdawneduponhimthathehadhappeneduponaluckyencounter,thatatlasthemightlearnsomethingofthenewage。Theoldmanwheezedawhileandspat,andthenthepiping,reminiscentvoiceresumed: \"Thefirsttimetheyrejectedhim。I’vefolloweditall。\" \"Rejectedwhom?\"saidGraham。\"TheSleeper?\" \"Sleeper?No。Ostrog。Hewasterrible——terrible! Andhewaspromisedthen,promisedcertainlythenexttime。Foolstheywere——nottobemoreafraidofhim。Nowallthecity’shismillstone,andsuchaswedustgrounduponit。Dustgrounduponit。Untilhesettowork——theworkerscuteachother’sthroats,andmurderedaChinamanoraLabourpolicemanattimes,andlefttherestofusinpeace。Deadbodies!Robbing!Darkness!Suchathinghasn’tbeenthisgrossofyears。Eh!——but’tisillonsmallfolkswhenthegreatfallout!It’sill。\" \"Didyousay——therehadnotbeenwhat?——foragrossofyears?\" \"Eh?\"saidtheoldman。 Theoldmansaidsomethingaboutclippinghiswords,andmadehimrepeatthisathirdtime。\"Fightingandslaying,andweaponsinhand,andfoolsbawlingfreedomandthelike,\"saidtheoldman。\"Notinallmylifehastherebeenthat。Theseareliketheolddays——forsure——whentheParispeoplebrokeout—— threegrossofyearsago。That’swhatImeanhasn’tbeen。Butit’stheworld’sway。Ithadtocomeback。 Iknow。Iknow。ThisfiveyearsOstroghasbeenworking,andtherehasbeentroubleandtrouble,andhungerandthreatsandhightalkandarms。Bluecanvasandmurmurs。Noonesafe。Everythingslidingandslipping。Andnowhereweare!Revoltandfighting,andtheCouncilcometoitsend。\" \"Youareratherwell—informedonthesethings,\" saidGraham。 \"IknowwhatIhear。Itisn’tallBabbleMachinewithme。\" \"No,\"saidGraham,wonderingwhatBabbleMachinemightbe。\"AndyouarecertainthisOstrog——youarecertainOstrogorganisedthisrebellionandarrangedforthewakingoftheSleeper?Justtoasserthimself——becausehewasnotelectedtotheCouncil?